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Mason supports UI’s Barta

University of Iowa President Sally Mason reiterated her support of UI Athletics Director Gary Barta on Thursday, telling the committee overseeing his department that she takes student well-being seriously and supported his decision to fire the field hockey coach.

In her short remarks, Mason assured the UI Presidential Committee on Athletics that the Aug. 4 decision to fire field hockey coach Tracey Griesbaum was based on ensuring the well-being of all student athletes.

“The one thing I am adamant on — and will take (Barta) to task for — is making sure that our student athletes, first and foremost, are being treated well,” Mason said.

The committee, an advisory group for the president, had asked Mason earlier in the week whether she wanted to speak at the meeting in light of the Des Moines Sunday Register story questioning whether a gender bias exists in coaching in the UI athletics program.

During Thursday’s meeting, the committee received an equity report on hiring practices of the UI Athletics Department. It showed the department compares well with the rest of the university in equity hiring, said Jennifer Modestou, the director the UI Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, who presented the report.

The report recommended that the department to do more to ensure the diversity of the internal candidate pool when hiring interns and temporary positions.

“They put a lot of effort into their recruiting strategies,” Modestou said. “… They are always in recruiting mode, and they are very familiar with the pool of candidates that might be out there.”

The Athletics Department is required to follow the same hiring procedures as the rest of the university. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity reviews the process at the recruitment, pre-interview and selection stages.

After Mason left the meeting, committee chairman Jeff Cox said Mason had met with the executive committee for a 30-minute “frank discussion” immediately before the full committee meeting. Cox later said Mason’s remarks to the executive committee didn’t differ substantially from the short ones she offered to the full committee.

Griesbaum was fired in August following an investigation ordered by Barta that didn't substantiate any violations of university policy but raised concerns about a “team environment of fear, intimidation and/or mistreatment.” Griesbaum is considering filing a civil rights lawsuit against the university.

“I support the athletic director’s decision to make a change (in field hockey),” Mason said during Thursday’s meeting. “The athletic director keeps me informed and involved at all levels — whether a coaching change or changes in procedures, policies, his staff.”

Higher education reporter Jeff Charis-Carlson can be contacted at 319-887-5435 or jcharisc@press-citizen.

Equity report

According to the “Hiring Activity Report” presented Thursday to the UI Presidential Committee on Athletics:

•For the 13 administrative hires in the UI Department of Athletics in fiscal year 2013-14, women made up 15 percent of the total applicant pool, 24 percent of the interviews candidates and 38 percent of the hired candidates.

•For those same 13 administrative hires in the department, minorities made up 16 percent of the total applicant pool, 11 percent of the interviewed candidates and 23 percent of the hired candidates.

•For the 17 coaches hired in fiscal year 2013-14, minorities made up 15 percent of the total applicant pool, 18 percent of the interviewed candidates and 24 percent of the hired candidates.

•For the nine coaches hired in women’s sports in fiscal year 2013-14, women made up 32 percent of the total applicant pool, 48 percent of the interview candidates and 33 percent of the hired candidates.

•For the one coach hired in combined men’s and women’s sports, women made up 18 percent of the total applicant pool, 100 percent of the interviewed candidates, and a woman was hired.

•For the seven coaches hired in men’s sports, women made up 1 percent of the total applicant pool. No female candidates were interviewed, and no female candidates were hired.